As Republicans fight to keep their majority in both Houses of Congress this fall, the nation’s attention has turned to Tennessee, where a tight Senate race could determine the balance of the Senate.

Friday that attention manifested itself with the American Conservative Union’s stacked lineup of speakers in support of Senate candidate U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn. The CPAC/365 event titled “Battle Ground CPAC Event” set the tone.

Vice President Mike Pence gave a nearly 50-minute keynote speech, with the last 15 or so minutes pointing to the stakes of Tennessee’s Senate race between the “liberal” former Gov. Phil Bredesen and the “principled” Blackburn.

“(Because) I served with her in Congress I can tell you Marsha Blackburn is one of the strongest, most principled conservatives that I’ve ever met and have had the pleasure of serving with,” he said.

Blackburn, dressed smartly in near-UT orange, didn’t speak long as she introduced Pence. But she took the time to highlight her work fighting the bill that would have created the state’s income tax and she reminded the crowd of her fight against Planned Parenthood and the “body parts” comment that skyrocketed her to national fame, particularly in conservative circles.

President Donald Trump listens as U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., speaks at a rally in Nashville on May 29, 2018.(Photo: Mark Humphrey/AP)

Mostly, she used her time to remind people of the difference between her and Bredesen.

“I don’t know anybody who wants to go back to the policies of Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi,” she said as the crowd booed in disapproval.

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“Look, (Bredesen) might be a nice enough guy, he might make a decent senator for California or New Jersey, but not for this state,” Cox said to cheers. “Don’t be fooled. Don’t be fooled. Don’t let your friends be fooled, don’t let your family be fooled or your co-workers be fooled. … This is a high-stakes election, ladies and gentlemen."

Cox said Republicans have to "fight like the third monkey on the ramp of Noah’s Ark."

Bredesen press secretary Alyssa Hansen responded to comments about Bredesen after the speeches.

"Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn keeps bringing her D.C. friends to our state to tell voters what to think, but it is clear that Tennesseans want to turn things upside-down and tell Washington instead how we want to live,” she said in a statement. “That's why Governor Bredesen is applying for the job.”

During the event, Bredesen’s team released a new TV ad that featured Tennessee Republicans talking about why they’re supporting Bredesen. The ad, “Phil Bredesen: Supported by Tennessee Republicans,” will begin airing this weekend.

Support for Kavanaugh

Nearly every speaker came to the defense of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, whose nomination was nearly derailed by sexual assault allegations against him by Christine Blasey Ford, who said the alleged assault happened when the two were in high school in the 1980s.

“Judge Kavanaugh is a family man, a man of integrity with a lifetime record of service to this country. His impeccable credentials reflect a consistent, conservative judicial philosophy,” Pence said.

Blackburn said it was time to confirm Kavanaugh, and Lee said the “pushback” on Kavanaugh is a reminder of whom to vote for in November.

“What we’ve seen in the last week, the tidal wave of pushback to the appointment of a conservative judge that will help shape the future of our country … what we’ve seen there is just a real reminder of how important it is that we have Marsha Blackburn as our next U.S. senator.”

Pence on Trump’s successes

Before he railed on Bredesen or pumped up Blackburn, Pence reminded voters that the economy is booming, no thanks, he said, to the policies of Obama. He said the tax cut, which some corporations, even locally like First Tennessee Bank, turned into bonuses for workers, is working.

He compared his more modest living to someone who could afford only modestly priced suits that range from $300 to $1,000.

“Karen and I come from what I will call the Joseph A. Bank wing of the West Wing,” he said. “Are you with me on that? I mean, we’ve always been on a budget our whole lives. Still are.”

He said he and his wife had a term for an extra $1,000 unplanned bonus at the end of the year: “Christmas.”

In a softer moment, Pence said the administration has the victims of Hurricane Florence in North and South Carolina “in our hearts and in our prayers.”

“As the president made clear when he visited the Carolinas yesterday, our message to those affected by Hurricane Florence is simple: We’re with you, we stand with you, and we’ll stand with you every step of the way until the Carolinas come back bigger and better than ever before.”

After the speech, Pence was to head to Club LeConte, the restaurant atop the Tennessee Tower, for a private fundraiser for Blackburn. Entry into the event was $1,000 a person and included $5,400 per couple, with a photo; or $25,000 per couple, including a photo and roundtable with Pence.

Pence left Knoxville and flew to Little Rock, Arkansas, where he stumped for U.S. Rep. French Hill, who faces a tense re-election bid.

Small group of protesters

About a dozen people braved the noon-day heat across from the Knoxville Convention Center to protest Pence.

The protest was organized by Indivisible East Tennessee, a branch of the national "Indivisible" movement. The movement was inspired by the publication of the Indivisible Guide, an online guide published by former congressional staffers that gives tips on the best ways to get lawmakers' attention.